NEWS: Companies try eBay to sell themselves

News/Web 2.0/ebay
Found on: news.yahoo.com

Looking for a deal on a Web 2.o dot-com? Well look no further - USATODAY.com is reporting that there are plenty to be had on the popular auction site eBay.

USA Today post:

What do Beanie Babies, Pez Dispensers and troubled Internet companies have in common? They're all for sale on eBay.

More than 10 dot-coms have recently sought buyers on the popular auction site. Search engine DigForIt.com sold for $25,400 this month after promising bidders "great revenue potential." SynapseLife, an online calendar and organizational site, sold for $60,000 despite warning it had "no advertising revenue."

NEWS: AdMob 'Plugs in' to Mobilize the WordPress Community

Web Culture/Blogging/Marketing/Mobile
Found on: businesswire.com

Could mobile ready versions of blogs powered by Wordpress be the next big thing to hit the blogosphere?

Businesswire.com is reporting that mobile web developer extraordinaire, Andy Moore is working with AdMob, to launch a free mobile WordPress plug-in that may do just that.

Businesswire post:

Mobile innovator Andy Moore of Web2Txt has teamed with AdMob, the world's largest mobile internet advertising Marketplace, to launch a free mobile plug-in for popular blogging tool WordPress. The new offering will enable the global WordPress blogger community to both go mobile quickly and then immediately start to monetize their content from advertising revenue. The announcement was made today at Ad:Tech 2007 in San Francisco, California.

WordPress is a popular open source blogging tool used by thousands of blogs including top ranked TechCrunch, MobileCrunch, Venturebeat and Schobelizer. Andy Moore of Web2Txt, a dotmobi certified mobile web developer, has built a plug-in to enable WordPress bloggers to extend their reach by publishing for mobile phones. The WordPress plug-in integrates AdMob code that gives bloggers the option to include ads in their posts.

NEWS: BrowseGoods (Shopping Engine) Launches

News/Marketing/Brian Smith
Found on: comparisonengines.com

Did you know that 25% of all online purchases are unplanned and a result from undirected browsing? Well apparently the guys at Dotted Pair did and they developed a very innovating way to comparison shop using a Google-map-like engine called "BrowseGoods."



Comparison Engine post:

Last year at eTail, Rudy Patero from Fry talked about how Web 2.0 technologies could be used in the retail area. There was a lot of hype about everything Web 2.0, but not many etailers were taking advantage of this concept. A year later, a lot has changed. Many shopping search engines have implemented a newer look and feel taking advantage of AJAX, user generated content is everywhere in the form of text and video reviews, and there are a ton of social shopping experiments popping up.

Today, I’m excited to break the news that BrowseGoods has launched. BrowseGoods has developed a new interface for visual shopping. I hate to dumb it down, but the easiest way to describe it is Google maps for shopping; BrowseGoods allows a user to zoom in/out and pan around by clicking on a section and then dragging the catalog. I can’t do the service justice through words…you just have to go to BrowseGoods and start playing with it.

NEWS: Why Google and Gaming Isn't a Killer Combination

News/Web Culture/Google/Abbey Klaassen
Found on: adage.com

With more and more gaming consoles taking advantage of gamers "always on the web connections," it makes since that Google wants to Adsense and Adword their way on to my video games -- I can see it now, me and my friends rocking out to GNR's "Sweet Child O' Mine" on "Guitar Hero 2" and BAM! some pop up comes up with a link to Amazon offering me a deal to purchase GNR's "Best of Album" - hmm, it is a good album.


Advertising Age post:

Google getting into video games seems at first blush like a natural evolution -- after all, gaming is hugely popular and growing, console games are increasingly web-connected, and the search giant certainly hasn't been shy about trying to apply its selling efficiency and contextual tools to other media. But digital-media buyers have a hard time seeing how Google's simplified, automated buying processes could result in effective in-game ads.

NEWS: Social Retailing- Combining Social Networking and Shopping

News/Social Networking/Youth Trends/Amanda Gore
Found on: fashion.psfk.com

Could this be the "killer app" retailers have been waiting for? The technology that will bridge the gap between popular social network websites (e.g. Myspace, Bebo, Facebook) and real world profits aka - cha-ching!

Amanda Gore reports in her article how Social Retailing technology uses an in-store three-paneled "magic mirror" that can send photos or videos of shoppers in outfit options to their MySpace page or to friend's emails and mobiles for instant opinions.

Fashion PSFK post:

Interactive services firm IconNicholson has created a new type of in-store experience that combines social networking and shopping, known as Social Retailing.

Demonstrated at the National Retail Federation conference earlier this week, the Social Retailing technology uses a three-paneled "magic mirror" in-store that can send photos or videos of shoppers in outfit options to their MySpace page or to friend's emails and mobiles for instant opinions. Friends 'yes' or 'no' votes are then visible on the mirror itself. The interactive technology also allows customers to see what others have purchased, view similar options that are not in stock in the store, check out using MasterCard SecureCode and have their orders delivered to their home.

NEWS: Universal Turns to Social Nets

News/Social Networks/Second Life/Brian Morrissey
Found on: adweek.com

How cool is this - Universal Pictures launched a Second Life in-world promotion (action game) that's giving away a million "Linden" dollars and all you have to do is hunt down other players with your weapon of choice.



Adweek post:

Universal Pictures is looking to connect with young moviegoers in new places for its upcoming release, Smokin' Aces.

The studio is complementing more traditional advertising on TV and Web sites with a Second Life action game that will let users hunt each other down for the opportunity to win a share of 1 million Linden dollars, the metaverse's
virtual currency, or about $3,750. It is also running a widget campaign that encourages movie fans to spread the word by placing trailers on their blogs and MySpace profiles.

NBWS: Interactive campaigns build buzz with fun

News/Web Culture/Youth Trends/Laura Petrecca
Found on: usatoday.com

Here are two examples of great buzz branding websites that advertisers are using to reach out to their client's customers online.

1) OfficeMax did it with their holiday promotion ElfYourself.com

2) M&M's the "character creator" on its new BecomeAnMM.com which was promoted during Tuesday night's season premier of American Idol.

Viral marketing is key these days to get the consumer to pass along the product message -- believe the hype!

USA TODAY post:

Some marketers are getting personal in their viral marketing as they continue to invent ways to interact with consumers online and try to get them to pass along the product message.

Today, job site CareerBuilder.com will announce the launch of Age-O-Matic.com, a site where consumers can upload a photo of a themselves or someone else, alter the image in a way that ages the person about 50 years and pass the result on to others via e-mail. The underlying message: The stresses of a bad job will age you.

NEWS: Boost Mobile and RETNA Team up to Present an Exclusive Mobile Art Content Collaboration

News/Youth Trends/Mobile/Artist
Found on: businesswire.com



Renowned graffiti and street artist, RETNA has partnered with urban niche - mobile service provider, Boost Mobile to offer exclusive content to their wireless customers.

Business Wire post:

Boost Mobile today announced an exclusive content deal with Los Angeles-based artist RETNA offering its youth wireless customers an opportunity to own and experience a piece of artwork from the renowned artist on their Boost Mobile phone, for a fraction of the high gallery fees.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with talented artists such as RETNA, and are pioneering in our efforts to differentiate this high quality content,” said Jeff Park, director of business development for Boost Mobile. “We are developing an intense and immersive experience on the web that is consistent with the quality of the artist’s work and enables Boost customers to experience their art in a meaningful way.”

On display at Boost Mobile’s Street Culture Lounge and Gold Box Mission during the MAGIC and ASR tradeshows, the partnership with RETNA expanded beyond wireless content. Boost Mobile also plans to collaborate with the artist to design limited edition mobile accessory collections, as well as other products that are relevant to mobile communication and pop culture. Boost Mobile’s support of a creative lifestyle, culture and attitude is represented by this exclusive deal as an extension of the brand’s commitment to enhancing the youth wireless experience.

NEWS: Second Life Screening of Four Eyed Monsters

News/Web Culture/Second Life/Sundance
Found on: prnewswire.com

Award winning indie film "Four Eyed Monsters", will have it's premiere Second Life screening tomorrow (Jan 9th) at the new Sundance Channel Island, the screening will be followed with a Q&A session with the creators of the film; I plan on attending and hope to have something to report back to you guys sometime this week.



PR Newswire post:

Sundance Channel announced the screening of the independent feature film Four Eyed Monsters is set for Tuesday, January 9 at 8pm EST in the Sundance Channel screening room in Second Life. Following the screening, the filmmakers Arin Crumley and Susan Buice will be on hand for a question and answer period from the audience. Live feeds of the event will also be presented from other Second Life locations. More information on additional locations can be found on.

NEWS: Bebo to Roll Out Ad Widgets

News/Social Networks/Bebo/Advertising
Found on: adweek.com

AdWeek is reporting that social network Bebo is set to launch it's first ad-supported widgets (small web applications that users can embed into their profiles):

In 2007, Bebo plans to add advertiser-supported widgets, like interactive games, which users can opt to add to their profiles. Advertiser applications will get a featured spot in the Bebo Widgets gallery.

Adweek post:

Bebo is readying the launch of its first advertiser widgets, small Web applications users can embed in their personal Web pages.

The social network last week began allowing users to embed miniature Web applications into their profile pages, letting them choose from three photo-sharing widgets from Slide, Photobucket and Rockyou. Bebo plans to build a collection of widgets users can choose to add to their profiles.

NEWS: CBS, Comcast to Televise Videogames

News/Youth Trends/Video games/Ryan Olson
Found on: redherring.com

Don't tell my wife, but both CBS and Comcast just announced they will televise pro gaming events, making it the first time the coverage will air on network TV.

Redherring post:

With gamers and the media in a frenzy over the launch of the latest consoles from Nintendo and Sony during the thick of what looks to be a busy holiday season, network television is coming out to grab a piece of the gaming action.

On Tuesday Comcast became the second major player in the U.S. television industry in as many days to unveil an agreement with a professional gaming league designed to bring game-centric content to TV viewers.

NEWS: MySpace Goes Wireless

News/Social Networks/Myspace/Mobile/Stephen Ellis
Found on: fool.com

MySpace will become available via Cingular's mobile phones, allowing the millions of MySpace users to access the site wirelessly. So what is this going to mean for HELIO? And can Sprint suck anymore then they already do...come on, get with it!

Fool.com post:

News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) MySpace, the wildly popular social networking site, is reportedly lining up yet another big deal. The deal is expected to put MySpace on Cingular's mobile phones, thus allowing the millions of MySpace users to access the site wirelessly. While users can currently access MySpace via Helios, a joint venture of Earthlink (Nasdaq: ELNK) and SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM), this deal has the potential to be a game-changer.

Not only does it make sense for MySpace's largely younger user base, who are usually heavy mobile phone users, but it makes sense for MySpace as well. With the site's advertising revenues being relatively puny compared to its user base and site traffic, the wireless move offers a chance to increase user stickiness, as well as boost advertising, movie, and music sales, as subscribers might want to stream the content to their phones.

Youtube Second Life Machinima commercials?

Youtube/Second Life/Marketing
Found on: Youtube

Nylon Outfitters is a "Virtual" store that sells virtual clothing, cameras and other v-products in the immensely popular online world Second Life.

Nylon Pickney, the owner of Nylon Outfitters decided to promote her products by producing three machinima commericals and posting them onto Youtube for both virtual and non virtual world to view.

Here are the links to the commercials found on Nylon Pickney's blog Newly Born:

-Video Camping is for the Camcorder, its a horror parody. Its more of a short movie then a commercial, but its definitley my favorite, its a little longer compared to the other two.

-Beatiful is for the 35mm (my favorite camera) and its about a photo project to take something beautiful.

-The Motel is for the Polorid, its about what happens when a guy, a couple of drinks, a polorid camera, and a pair of legs are put in the same room.

Sells have gone up with all the new exposure and things couldn't look any brighter for Nylon Pickney and her store's future.

Nylon Pickney's Youtube profile page